Portadown Orangemen will have a different legal team when they return to the court in Belfast on Monday.
Former Attorney General John Larkin KC won’t now be representing them due to his “availability” and the legal firm he had taken instructions from has been changed due to reported threats.
Mr Larkin, who served as Attorney General from 2010-2020, has been involved in the high-profile legal challenge taken by a member of the Portadown District Loyal Orange Order earlier this year.
The prominent legal figure had taken instructions from Belfast-based legal firm McIvor Farrell, which has also now removed itself from proceedings linked to the dispute.
The changes came just days before Garvaghy Road residents return to the court of appeal to challenge the Parades Commission determination.
It is understood another barrister, Richard McConkey KC, has been drafted in to replace Mr Larkin for Monday’s hearing while legal firm Anderson Gillan Barr have taken over from McIvor Farrell.
It is also understood junior barrister Emma McIlveen, along with loyalist Jamie Bryson, who has been described as a ‘legal advisor’ to Portadown Orangemen, remain involved in ongoing proceedings.
It is expected Garvaghy Road residents will return to court on Monday after the High Court threw out an application to challenge the Drumcree parade last weekend.
Jamie Bryson told The Irish News: “As publicly set out a number of days ago, the applicant had to change legal firms because the firm acting for him was subject to threats for acting for the loyal order.
“This was communicated to the court of appeal.
“It is wholly untrue to say John Larkin has ‘withdrawn’ from the case. He has not. Due to availability he was unable to appear on the listed date, and so alternative senior counsel was brought in.”
Mr Bryson added that “any implication there is any issue is completely false.”
